LIVE REVIEW: Lower Than Atlantis @ O2 ABC, Glasgow 16th Dec

Tonight we’re at the O2 ABC for the final show of Lower Than Atlantis’ biggest headline tour to date. The Watford four piece have had a cracking year which has seen them tour the US and Australia with Hands Like Houses, grace the stages of festivals across the UK as well as airplay on Radio 1 and not to forget a couple of their own headline tours thrown in for good measure. After seeing the band play in The Garage back in April, I have a feeling we’re in for another great show.

The openers, Black Foxxes kick into gear with vocalist Mark Holley really going for it throughout the set. Their angsty rock choruses with big drum fills, smooth verses and strong bass lines showcase the massive sound these guys are capable of creating. Expect to be hearing a lot more from them over the next year.

Next to take the stage are Brighton pop-punkers As It Is. Frontman, Patty Walters bounds out in front of the Glasgow crowd with an energy you’d think is surely impossible to keep up? Nope! After mic-swinging, pogo-ing and all sorts of punk jumps (all in the first couple of songs I might add), Walters tells the crowd that the first show of their first tour was in Glasgow, and thanks them for sticking around. The five-piece played a bunch of songs off their popular debut album, had the crowd dancing along and very much ready for what would come next…

Moose Blood. Oh, Moose Blood. Their sound is the perfect blend of emo with lyrics to die for and instrumentals that could melt the polar ice caps. The crowd are involved right from the first chord of Bukowski through to the last chord of Boston – every song is a toe tapper and I’m really happy that I finally got to catch these guys live. Fangirl moment over.

Onto the main event, and the reason the O2 ABC has a real buzz about it. Shortly before their entrance, we are given an introduction that is reminiscent of an old theatre style Health & Safety announcement. It instructs us to prepare ourselves for Lower Than Atlantis then takes an unexpected twist when Shut Down by Skepta starts playing over it, accompanied by some full on ABC disco ball action.

Photo by Lara Fullerton

The intro to Get Over It starts, the curtain drops and we’re off. At the end of the first song, frontman Mike Duce points out that this is the only Scottish date of their tour and therefore we must represent the country. The band blast their way through crowd favourites Criminal and Emily, both of which have huge, catchy singalong choruses. The stage lighting looks ace and helps create an atmosphere that wouldn’t be unusual in an arena – well done to the Lighting Designer. During the next couple of songs we have mosh pits and macarenas (yes) happening in the crowd which can only be representative of the time everyone is having.

Some technical issues halt the show for a few minutes (not for the first or last time either) and Duce takes advantage of the breather to explain that he has lost his voice and asks if the crowd would help him out and sing along. Of course they oblige and during the acoustic version of Deadliest Catch he strains to reach certain notes, but is covered by the people of Glasgow. At various points during the next 5 minutes he leans back, shakes his head in awe and appreciation, and thanks everyone for their support. He dedicates Another Sad Song to Scotland and very admirably pushes on.

The last 10 minutes sees Duce make his way into the crowd as well as the band inviting a few dedicated fans on stage for a crowd photograph to round off the night. Mike proclaims that this has been a show he’ll remember for the rest of his life, and I’m sure everyone else there will too.